Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Today is the last day of the month! Today is also the last day of our amazing art auction! We have SIX PIECES up for auction today and hope that you take a moment to help us really send August out with a bang.

Our first piece this morning comes from a beautiful little lady named Gwendolyn. This framed 17x21x1 fingerpainting is beautifully decorated in pastels. Perfect piece to add some calm in any room. We named it Springtime. Thanks G!
Our second piece named Alphabet Soup was created with love and care by a little boy named Alonzo. This framed 17x13x1 piece is decorated with vibrant colors. A great addition to a child's room or office.
Our third piece comes from Brenda, mother of Angel Bella and Bradley. We called this piece Frogs for a reason. It is a unframed beautiful 8x10x1 canvas that would be a perfect addition to a child's room and/or frog enthusiast.
Our fourth piece of the day comes from a sweet little boy named Ford. He created this masterpiece. This framed 17x13x1 creation has such a simple elegance to it. We named it Celebration.
Our fifth piece was created by the loving hands of Miss Micah. This beautiful tree is sure to warm any room in your home. This framed 17x21x1 is simply breathtaking and cozy at the same time. It is named, Tree of Love.
Last, but certainly not least, comes again from the dynamic duo of Brielle and Brooke. This creation we named Miss Butterfly is just too cute. This unframed 20x16x1 canvas has a beautiful illustration of a vibrant butterfly in flight.

Monday, August 29, 2011

A week ago I got a new tattoo. While I featured it on Facebook, I wanted to wait until it healed to share it on the blog and talk a little about why I fight.

As you know, August is SMA Awareness Month. It struck me that with the different events I've done and help I've given...I wanted to make it clear that I'm in this for the long haul. While I love Kate, Mark and Getty dearly...I wanted people to know that it was not just about them. I've grown close and grown to love other children and

families affected by SMA. Through these relationships it has become very clear to me that I will always fight SMA. I will fight it until we no longer have to.

This tattoo will remind me to do just that and my hope it will also help spread awareness, since questions about my tattoos are a pretty common thing.

I've been asked in the last few weeks by a couple parents if my son Leyton has SMA. I can only imagine that some are asking because it would explain why I'm in this battle. I mean, let's face it. I'm a full time working mom with a 15 month old son to chase around so I don't have a ton of time on my hands. Spending time on these events does take away from time with my family. So there in lies the question. Why am I willing to sacrifice that time?

I do it because my worries are small. I put Leyton to bed at night worrying whether or not he is going to wake up in the middle of the night and want me to sleep with him. I worry whether or not I'm letting him drink from a bottle for too long. I worry whether it will be hard for him to get rid of his pacifier. I worry that I feed him too much or give him too much juice.

What I don't have to worry about is how much time I may or may not have with him. I don't have to worry whether or not doctors are going to know how to take care of my child. I don't have to worry about where I take him because it might compromise his health. Those are worries that no parent should ever have.

That is why I fight.

It make take up my personal family time, but it is time that I know later in life my son will be proud of. He will know his mom was doing something good for others, which is something we all should do a little more of.

Friday, August 26, 2011

I'm a little late in posting today so you will get both of today's art pieces in one post!

The first up is Rainbow Flight!This one of a kind framed mixed media piece was that was created with love and care from Aiden's Mom, Dawn. The decoupaged butterflies fly along the canvas in a rainbow pattern. This framed art would be a terrific addition to any room, dorm room, nature lover.

Next up is Hero!This one of a kind handcrafted wood carving was created with love and care from Jadon's daddy, Tony. This handsome wood carving entitled HERO would be an awesome addition and fitting for anyone you believe is your little hero.

100% of all proceeds will be going through the Getty Owl Foundation to the Gene Therapy Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Help us fight SMA, the #1 genetic killer of young children.

Click on the name of each art piece to be taken directly to the auction!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Butterflies in FlightThis one of a kind framed artwork was made with love and care from Angel Andy's little sister, Lucy. She beautifully decorated each butterfly and is framed in a 3 dimensional as if the butterflies are popping out of the frame. This art would be a perfect addition to anyone's nursery, child's room or butterfly enthusiast.

100% of all proceeds will be going through the Getty Owl Foundation to the Gene Therapy Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Help us fight SMA, the #1 genetic killer of young children.

Please click on the name of the artwork to go directly to the auction site.

This week is a gooooood one!! I've been wanting to do a thrifty find makeover for some time, but just didn't have that perfect item to do it with. Then I found this.I got this little owl lamp at the Goodwill on Arden Way for $3. I had no idea if it worked, but I bought it anyway because it was worth a shot.

Kate recently gave Getty a big girl room and so I knew that this lamp should be a part of that room, but not looking how it looked. Solution....a can of spray paint! I choose a light blue/aqua color and got to spraying.

I was so pleased with how the owl came out! Looks like a modern new item now. Oh, and the real question at hand....It works!!!

Have you found anything good this week? If so, link up and let me know!

Seriously this is going better than we have EVER expected! We had so much fun selling the artwork at Hoot the Grid and who could have known that auctioning it online would be equally as exciting!

Today's first piece is Nest of Life.This one of a kind framed photograph was captured with love and care from what we call an SMA fighter. Morgan Saunders is such a advocate and fighter for all of our children. This beautiful framed photo sizes at 17x21x1.5. It would be a wonderful addition to any room.

100% of all proceeds will be going through the Getty Owl Foundation to the Gene Therapy Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Help us fight SMA, the #1 genetic killer of young children.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

This one of a kind painted horse that was created with love and care from a very special little guy named Charleston "Cash". This 9x9x3 shadow box with horse art would go great in any young child's room, horse enthusiast, bathroom, and any room that would appreciate a beautiful accent pop art.

100% of all proceeds will be going through the Getty Owl Foundation to the Gene Therapy Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Help us fight SMA, the #1 genetic killer of young children.

Please click on the name of the piece to go straight to the auction page!!

This one of a kind painting was created with love and care from a very special girl named Natalie. This 10x8 unframed canvas of art would go great in any young child's room, baby nursery, bathroom, and any room that would appreciate a beautiful accent of purple.

100% of all proceeds will be going through the Getty Owl Foundation to the Gene Therapy Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Help us fight SMA, the #1 genetic killer of young children.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

This one of a kind canvas painting was created with love and care from a very special little lady named Lucy. This 14x11x1 unframed piece of art would go great in any young child's room, nursery room, livingroom accent, or any room looking for a bit of sophisticated flare.

100% of all proceeds will be going through the Getty Owl Foundation to the Gene Therapy Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.Help us fight SMA, the #1 genetic killer of young children.

Please click on the name of the artwork in order to be taken directly to the auction site!

Our auction is starting off with a bang! Our first piece up is "Abstract Minnie." This one of a kind painting was created with love and care from a very special little lady named Nora. This 21x21 framed piece of art would go great in any young child's room or baby nursery.

100% of all proceeds will be going through the Getty Owl Foundation to the Gene Therapy Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Help us fight SMA, the #1 genetic killer of young children.

Remember, all bids start at only $10 so this is a wonderful chance to help out a cause and get some amazing artwork!! Click on the name of the piece to go straight to the auction!!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Hello and Happy Monday! As I mentioned in my post last week, our Hoot The Grid SMA Awareness Walk and Art Auction was a HUGE success! Prior to the event we had quite a few people who lived out of area, but wanted to know how they could purchase some art. So, we decided that any art that didn't sell at Hoot the Grid would be sold online auction style!

Starting tomorrow two pieces will be listed online each day, and you will have the ability to bid on them and purchase your own piece. All pieces will start at $10, all pieces are framed and ready to hang, all items were created by children with SMA, all proceeds will go to the Getty Owl Foundation to help fund research into a cure!

I was soo happy to attend the event last Saturday and purchase my own piece of art!

My piece was created by Gavin, a 5 year old boy with SMA Type 1. He created this piece using his feet. His mom helped him change out the colors and would turn the canvas for him. The minute I saw it I knew I had to have it!

What piece will steal your heart? I will post a link each day to the two pieces that have gone live for that day. I hope you all consider bidding on a piece!!

Ok, I really cheated here. I took this picture on Saturday of a crazy tree on the Berkeley campus. It sometimes amazes me the way a tree can grow and at times look almost creepy. I just had to share this one with you, I hope you don't mind!

Hi. So, I have something to ask you. A favor really. I don't ask much of you guys. Today though, I found out I was nominated as one of Sacramento's Most Valuable Blogs. You see, I've never been nominated for anything. I'm not sure about all these online popularity contests, but for some reason this time...I want to win.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

I took a week off so I could get ready for Hoot the Grid, but I'm back! Did you know yesterday was National Thrift Day?! I did, after my visit to a thrift store!! It was a good one at that. Of course I found books for Leyton, I always find books for Leyton. I also found clothes for myself and that is a MUCH RARER find. I'll be doing a whole post about clothes and thrift store shopping very soon.

For the time being, my favorite find yesterday was at the Goodwill on Arden.

I'm bringing sexy back to thrifting with these heels! I was so hesitant to buy them because I rarely wear heels anymore. Then I thought, they are $5 and they are comfortable....I'm going for it. I must say, I'm feeling a little bit naughty with these on today! Meow!

What did you find this week? Link up and let me know! Next week, I'll be featuring a fantastic thrift store make over that I've been dying to show you.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

I wanted to take a picture of a shelf with some meaning. Something I could tell you a story about instead of just blah blah blah, here's a bunch of junk on a shelf. It was then that it dawned on me!

On this shelf you will find, the one plant that I can always make grow....bamboo! Give me some of those lucky bamboo sticks and I will turn them into a huge plant, it's my green thumb. Then there is a picture of Ron Swanson that I got offline because the hubby loves him and well, it's hilarious. Then there is a ceramic figure that has been in my house for as long as I can remember (meaning my mom's house before mine).

Oh wait?! You are probably thinking, "Yeah Stacey, a bunch of random shit...get to the chicken."

See the chicken (or rooster actually) is a good story. When the hubby and I first moved in my roommate Kim was still in the house. She was showing us all the good things she got at a garage sale and my then boyfriend asked her if the chicken cookie jar was still there. She didn't recall seeing a chicken cookie jar and so we decided that the next morning he and I would walk down the street to see if they had the cookie jar so he could buy it and put it in the kitchen. Problem was, when we to the garage sale it turned out that it was not a cookie jar at all but a taxidermy chicken. We asked the price and the old man, who likely did not want his wife selling the item in the first place hollered out $20. Well, I bought it.

Thing was we were having a party that night and that chicken ended up the best guest of the night. Everyone at the party was given the task to take a picture with the chicken in some manner. We ended up with someone riding the chicken, someone kissing the chicken, someone licking the chicken, someone feeding the chicken "Chicken in a Biscuit" while covering it's eyes....the list goes on and on.

Kim and I were SO EXCITED to see the pictures the next day that we rushed them to the one hour photo and paced the store till they were finished. When we went back to pick them up, and gave them the name the checker got a horrible look on her face. As she was ringing us up, she simply said, "I have to ask...what were you guys doing to that chicken."

To which I quickly replied, "Oh no, it's actually a dead chicken!" As if that answer was going to make everything better in this poor checker's disturbed mind.

Needless to say, we still have the chicken and it was the best $20 I have ever spent at a garage sale.

Here is what I can say most, you are a little boy. As much as I try to pretend you are, I know you are not my little baby anymore. Sometimes I try to hold you like a baby and you laugh and squirm and wiggle away.

We call you "Gigs" most of the time and I think you know that is your name as much as Leyton is. It's amazing to see how much you learn each day and what a thrill you get out of doing something new. Last week your dad taught you how to hand us stuff into our hands. Each time you do you follow it up with a little happy dance. I actually do a happy dance myself because I'm not getting pelted in the head with books anymore.

There are so many words you say now I couldn't possibly make a list. Sometimes you say something only once just to be a mocking bird, other times you come out of no where with something and shock us all. Your favorite song to sing is the ABC's. You sometimes hum it, sometimes try to say the letters, and other times sing it to the word Mama.

You are such a happy little guy! You can be a pest when it comes to eating and are very particular about what you like and don't like. Our biggest struggle is baths. You want to go in the bath but once you are there you immediately want out. Funny thing is you like water in every other sense and love spraying yourself and drinking out of the hose. I should learn my lesson and just give you a bottle of shampoo outside.

Oh heavens that hair. It is the stuff dreams are made of. It is what gets you more attention than anything else. Those big soft locks, that perfect hombre two tone color. I would give anything to have your hair! It's starting to get long but there is no way I can bring myself to cut it!!!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

This evening was Hoot the Grid. It is why I have been a bit absent on the blog, and why I'm actually posting this on Tuesday. Not sure why I always have to confess that, but play along. While I love all the events I help out with for the Getty Owl Foundation and obviously have a huge place in my heart for crafts, this was by far my favorite event. I seriously loved every part of it. I loved the scavenger hunt for owls that the walkers participated in. I loved the artwork submitted by the families (and can't wait to show you the piece I bought!) It was a beautiful event and I returned home with such warmness in my heart.

Thank you to AJF for letting us hitch up in your salon for the night, thank you to The Honey Agency for being the sexiest and hardest working bees I've ever know and thank you to everyone that helped raise awareness. Don't forget, I'm having a contest and giving away a $50 gift card, it's running until the end of the month....don't miss out!!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Something I MadeI'm a crafty girl. I have made a ton of things in my life. I've made things that I love, I've made things that I hated. Up until this week I had never made anything that was as emotional as what you see above.

This is my piece for the Hoot The Grid - SMA Awareness Walk and Art Auction. It is filled with photos of those affected by SMA. They might have SMA 1-4, they might be carriers.....they might be you!! SMA is the #1 genetic killer of young children and 1 in 40 people are unknowingly carriers. Unknowing until they are delivered the message that their child will likely not live past their 2nd birthday.

These are the faces of SMA. Look at them and then look at yourself. Isn't it time to find out if you are a carrier? All it takes is a simple blood test. If you plan on having children I can't stress how much more important that test is!! Let's put an end to SMA.

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

I am the only one with this tattoo, it was designed for me to always remind me that I can make it through difficult times. A knee injury on my honeymoon left me on crutches on unable to walk for almost a year. If you see this tattoo then you can pretty much say, "Hey, that's Stacey Ball!"

Monday, August 08, 2011

If it weren't for technology and Facebook I would never have known that Kaytea in Florida made this wonderful hat that was too large for her dome piece but would fit perfectly on my gigantic melon head!!!

Sunday, August 07, 2011

In an effort to get ready for the Hoot the Grid - SMA Awareness Walk and Art Auction, Kate and I took a trip to Ikea. Damn if they don't come out with the cutest stuff sometimes! We absolutely had to go home with Mr. Broccoli and now I'm sad we didn't get Mr. Carrot too!!

Saturday, August 06, 2011

You are probably looking at this picture wondering....what the heck?? The other day I was talking to a friend about these very items so they were fresh in my mind. From 1993 to 1997 I kept a daily log of EVERYTHING I did. Seriously, everything. It's one of the few things I hung onto. Of course, it wouldn't be fun to just show you these books and not tell you what I did on this same day each year!!

1993: Training 9am (swimming), Letter from Jeff (boyfriend at time - long distance), Wendy's House, Work for Carisa, Birdcage "Aladdin" Gum on seat, rode home in bra (which is a FUNNY story by the way!)

1994: 4 Wheeling, caves, campfire (this would be with my friend Debie and her family!)

1995: Fish Hatchery, Round Table, Drinking round campfire (this would be the same trip the following year with Debie and her family!)

Friday, August 05, 2011

Today, we got home from our first camping trip with Leyton! The hubby and I love to camp and have been wanting to go, but I think were both a big nervous. I mean, what is there to be nervous about? We have an almost 15 month old, tons of dirt and rocky terrain, a crazy dog and wildlife.

Let me start by telling you what my three worries were.

1. Napping and bedtime. Would Leyton be as easy to go down in a tent? At home it's rather dark in his room, but with a 7:30pm bedtime there was no way for it to be dark camping.

2. Would he be loud and crying all the time, thus disturbing our neighbors?

3. Could I keep him warm at night.

We left Wednesday, and by Thursday afternoon my only worry was, "How much more of going up and down this hill can I take before I strap this child down?" That said, camping was fine. It was not the relaxing camping that I'm used to, but seeing how happy Leyton was outdoors made me happy. I let him play in the dirt, I let him frolic around, I did not worry about each and every item he put in his mouth...I just let him be a kid. OK, so going up and down the slopped hill got to be a bit much, especially for a mommy that got sick the day we were leaving but I wouldn't trade it for the world.Note to self: next time take a stroller and mittens!!

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Let me just start by saying that this is likely going to be the toughest picture. Well, unless there is a "What Bikini I Wear" photo later! First, I'm not a big fan of self portraits BUT what I hate even more is full body shots. Ick. Hate it. I think it looks ridiculous, I think I look huge and I can never seem to keep my feet in the pic. Whateve.

I'm wearing a hat that I got on clearance for $5 at Urban Outfitters. The dress is Rachel Pally and I got it for $3 at a thrift store. The jacket is from the Gap, I got it in 2007 for my wedding for $20. Yes, I wore a denim jacket in my wedding. The shoes that you can't see are also from the Gap and were on clearance for $5. I have on some simple hoops that I've had forever, an owl necklace given to me by Kate, my Getty Owl bracelets and my favorite Anne Klein watch.